Tower Unite

Last updated

Tower Unite
Tower Unite Logo.png
Developer(s) PixelTail Games
Publisher(s)
  • PixelTail Games  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Designer(s) Macklin Guy
Engine Unreal Engine 4 [1]
Platform(s) Windows
Release
  • Windows (Early access)
  • 8 April 2016
  • Linux (Beta)
  • 26 November 2016
Genre(s) Party game, Sandbox
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Tower Unite is a 2016 virtual world party game and sandbox game developed by PixelTail Games, in active development and available as an early access title on Steam. The game is set on an island in the style of a resort theme park, where players can interact, play mini-games, and join lobbies via matchmaking. In addition, players can host public or private virtual spaces known as "condos", customized with furniture and props.

Contents

The concept was initially developed in late 2006, but development was prolonged due to multiple development cycles and changing teams. [2] It was eventually released to the public in 2009 under the name GMod Tower, as a mod for the Source engine game Garry's Mod .

In 2015, the developers founded PixelTail Games and began development of Tower Unite as a standalone game. The project received a developer grant from Epic Games and was successfully crowdfunded on Indiegogo that same year. [3] [4] Following the release of the game, GMod Tower was subsequently shutdown. [5]

Gameplay

View of the tower and total island area accessible in plaza lobbies. Tower Unite main world screenshot.jpg
View of the tower and total island area accessible in plaza lobbies.

Tower Unite is set in an open world island with a central plaza, tower, several stores and buildings, and a wharf with carnival-style games. Main features of the island include a casino, arcade, roller coaster, bowling alley, monorail and Ferris wheel, to name some. The outer areas of the island include beaches, pools, huts, and a lighthouse, with areas for fishing. The island has a simulated day-night cycle.

The theme of the plaza is updated to celebrate holidays and events such as Halloween and Christmas, and is populated by dynamic NPCs and time-based mini-game events. Playing games, partaking in events, and completing achievements earns an in-game currency, which can be used to buy things in the game; no real money is ever used. [6]

Players can enter buildings, buy goods from NPCs, customise their character, and talk by voice and chat text. As a virtual world game, there is no single aim or gameplay loop, but a variety of activities to support player interaction and world creation.

User-generated content

In version 0.6, Tower Unite introduced user-generated content with Steam Workshop integration. [7] This allows for custom player models, props, and vehicles, as well as the sharing of condos.

Tower Unite comes with tools to help with packaging content, and supports the COLLADA format for 3D models.

Condos

Players can host their own private or public lobbies from a selection of maps, including buildings and open areas. They can decorate these areas or build structures, using props and furniture bought in-game or acquired from the Steam Workshop. In GMod Tower, the condo feature was initially intended as a home-like environment which players could customize, but the creation options have substantially expanded in Tower Unite, allowing players to design elaborate spaces in the style of larger maps.

Game worlds

Separate from condos and plaza activities, many of the main games in Tower Unite are known as game worlds and are hosted and played as individual activities. There are several game worlds available.

In addition, two further game worlds are displayed but marked unavailable, and are currently in development: Planet Panic and Horror Hill.

Other activities

Tower Unite features an expanding range of smaller activities that the player can pursue, including fishing, arcade games, casino games, and finding collectibles. Some of these activities can be tracked in the Collection Book, a sub-menu which logs player statistics and activities.

Development and release

The idea of Tower Unite was first expressed in a concept in late 2006, with various attempts to develop it which were substantially delayed with numerous team changes. [2] By 2009, the game was finally developed as GMod Tower, a mod for the Source engine game Garry's Mod . It became a cult hit and was one of the more significant Garry's Mod projects of its time, later featured in a Rock Paper Shotgun article in 2012 as a notable mod. [8]

In 2015, the developers founded PixelTail Games and began development of Tower Unite as a standalone game. This would lead to the retirement of GMod Tower, with a focus on building the concept further in a modern game engine. [5] PixelTail Games received two forms of funding, a developer grant from Epic Games, and subsequently a successful crowdfunding effort on Indiegogo that same year. [3] [4]

The first public version of Tower Unite was released on the Steam store on the 8th of April 2016. [9] It was released through the Early Access programme, which it still currently remains in. In addition, Tower Unite supports cloud services including Nvidia GeForce Now. [10] In November 2016, an experimental Linux client was released. [11]

Tower Unite was featured in the Humble Bundle monthly pack in March 2019. [12]

Pricing and DLC

As a design choice, Tower Unite has not implemented in-game purchases, microtransactions, nor subscriptions. Consequently, the price of the game has increased twice during development, first in May 2020 increasing from US$14.99 to US$19.99. [13] In January 2024, the price increased to US$24.99, with a developer for PixelTail Games stating the project was "just getting by" and "needed financial support." [14] In July 2024, the price decreased back to US$19.99. [15]

On January 30 2024, PixelTail Games released the Supporter Pack DLC on Steam. It gives players a limited range of cosmetic supporter items, but is primarily intended as a way for existing players to support continued development. [16]

Reception

The game has been praised for its Steam Workshop integration and user-generated content, including by journalist Jeff Gerstmann and gaming site Giant Bomb. [17] [18] [19] In 2022, the website hosted their game of the year deliberations virtually inside Tower Unite. [20]

In 2018, Brendan Caldwell of Rock Paper Shotgun described Tower Unite as a "bizarre resort town" and compared elements of it to The Sims and PlayStation Home. [21]

In October 2023, GameRant ranked Tower Unite 14 out of 21 in a list of top FPS games for children, describing the game as a "hidden gem." [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

Video game modding is the process of alteration by players or fans of one or more aspects of a video game, such as how it looks or behaves, and is a sub-discipline of general modding. Mods may range from small changes and tweaks to complete overhauls, and can extend the replay value and interest of the game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indie game</span> Class of video game, generally independently published

An indie video game or indie game, short for independent video game, is a video game created by individuals or smaller development teams without the financial and technical support of a large game publisher, in contrast to most "AAA" (triple-A) games. Because of their independence and freedom to develop, indie games often focus on innovation, experimental gameplay, and taking risks not usually afforded in AAA games. Indie games tend to be sold through digital distribution channels rather than at retail due to a lack of publisher support. The term is analogous to independent music or independent film in those respective mediums.

<i>Garrys Mod</i> 2006 video game

Garry's Mod is a 2006 sandbox game developed by Facepunch Studios and published by Valve. The base game mode of Garry's Mod has no set objectives and provides the player with a world in which to freely manipulate objects. Other game modes, notably Trouble in Terrorist Town and Prop Hunt, are created by other developers as mods and are installed separately, by means such as the Steam Workshop. Garry's Mod was created by Garry Newman as a mod for Valve's Source game engine and released in December 2004, before being expanded into a standalone release that was published by Valve in November 2006. Ports of the original Windows version for Mac OS X and Linux followed in September 2010 and June 2013, respectively. As of September 2021, Garry's Mod has sold more than 20 million copies. A successor, Sandbox, has been in development since 2015.

<i>Killing Floor</i> (video game) 2009 video game

Killing Floor is a cooperative first-person shooter video game developed and published by Tripwire Interactive. It was originally released as an Unreal Tournament 2004 mod in 2005. A full retail release followed on May 14, 2009, for Microsoft Windows, and for OS X on May 5, 2010. A version for Linux was released via Steam in November 2012.

<i>Alien Swarm</i> 2010 video game

Alien Swarm is a multiplayer top-down shooter video game developed by Valve. It is a remake of a mod for Unreal Tournament 2004, and it was developed by the original team, who were hired by Valve during the course of the development process.

Facepunch Studios Ltd is a British video game developer and publisher headquartered in Birmingham, England, founded in June 2004 and incorporated on 17 March 2009 by Garry Newman. The company is most known for its sandbox video game Garry's Mod and survival game Rust. Facepunch is currently developing s&box, which is regarded as a spiritual successor to Garry's Mod.

New World Interactive LLC (NWI) is an American video game developer founded by Andrew Spearin and Jeremy Blum in 2010. The company developed the multiplayer tactical shooter games Insurgency (2014), Day of Infamy (2017), and Insurgency: Sandstorm (2018). In 2020, New World Interactive was acquired by Saber Interactive.

Rust is a multiplayer survival video game developed by Facepunch Studios. It was first released in early access in December 2013 and received its full release in February 2018. Rust is available on Windows and macOS. Console versions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One developed in conjunction with Double Eleven were released in May 2021. Rust was initially created as a clone of DayZ, a popular mod for ARMA 2, with crafting elements akin to those in Minecraft.

<i>Pixel Piracy</i> 2014 video game

Pixel Piracy is a 2014 side-scrolling action-adventure game with roguelike elements, developed by Quadro Delta and published by Re-Logic. In the indie game, players construct a pirate ship, hire and train a crew, and guide their crew toward notoriety by defeating the four pirate captains in a procedurally-generated world full of islands. The game features several difficulty modes.

<i>Factorio</i> Construction and management simulation video game

Factorio is a construction and management simulation game developed and published by Czech studio Wube Software. The game was announced via an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign in 2013 and released for Windows, macOS, and Linux on 14 August 2020 following a four-year-long early access phase to positive reviews. The game was released on Nintendo Switch on 28 October 2022.

<i>Aperture Tag</i> 2014 modification for Portal 2

Aperture Tag: The Paint Gun Testing Initiative is a 2014 puzzle-platform game developed and published by the Aperture Tag Team for Windows and OS X. Unlike the official Portal series, the gameplay revolves around a paint gun rather than a portal gun, that fires two kinds of gel, one of which gives the player a jump boost and the other a speed boost. It also introduces other new mechanisms such as the paint fizzler and Pneumatic Diversity Vents that transport the player. The game takes place after Portal 2 and the player is guided by a personality core Nigel to complete puzzles in the Aperture Science Enrichment Center.

<i>Portal Stories: Mel</i> 2015 modification for Portal 2

Portal Stories: Mel is a 2015 puzzle-platform modification for Portal 2 developed and published by Prism Studios. Set in the Portal universe, the player controls Mel, a test subject with a prototype of the portal gun who must escape an underground facility after spending decades in artificial hibernation by completing puzzles. The player is guided by maintenance core named Virgil. The game includes custom voice acting, a soundtrack, and texture assets.

<i>Wrath: Aeon of Ruin</i> 2024 video game

Wrath: Aeon of Ruin is a 2024 first-person shooter developed by KillPixel Games and Slipgate Ironworks and published by 3D Realms and Fulqrum Publishing. It is built on a modified version of the Quake engine, making it the first major game release on that engine in nearly 20 years. The first episode was released on Steam Early Access on November 22, 2019, and was fully released on February 27, 2024.

<i>Sandbox</i> (video game) Upcoming video game

Sandbox is an upcoming sandbox game developed and published by Facepunch Studios. Regarded as a spiritual successor to Garry's Mod, the game provides players with a platform from which to develop and play different user-created gamemodes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adult Swim Games</span> Video game publishing division of Adult Swim

Adult Swim Games is the video game publishing division of Adult Swim, a brand of The Cartoon Network, Inc..

<i>Teardown</i> (video game) 2022 video game

Teardown is a 2022 sandbox–puzzle video game developed and published by Tuxedo Labs. The game revolves around the owner of a financially stricken demolition company, who is caught undertaking a questionable job and becomes entangled between helping police investigations and taking on further dubious assignments. Teardown features levels made of destructible voxels, and the player follows the campaign through consecutive missions. In most missions, the player must collect or destroy objects connected to a security alarm that triggers a timer. The player has unlimited time to prepare and is given upgradable tools, vehicles, and explosives to create a path within the level that allows them to complete the objectives and reach a getaway vehicle before the timer runs out.

<i>Portal Reloaded</i> 2021 modification for Portal 2

Portal Reloaded is a 2021 mod for the 2011 puzzle-platform game Portal 2, developed and published by Jannis Brinkman. As in the official Portal series, gameplay involves solving puzzles by manipulating portals, which allow the player to move through chambers. The mod also allows the player to shoot a third "time portal", allowing traversal across two versions of the puzzle chamber in different time periods. The player assumes control of a test subject who has to complete puzzles inside the Aperture Science Enrichment Center and destroy a "rogue test subject".

References

  1. ↑ Fraser, Calum (15 July 2015). "Tower Unite – Alpha Demo | Alpha Beta Gamer". www.alphabetagamer.com. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  2. 1 2 "GMod Tower :: About". www.gmtower.org. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Epic Games awards $80,000 in Unreal Dev Grants". Unreal Engine. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Track Tower Unite's Indiegogo campaign on BackerTracker". BackerKit. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  5. 1 2 Hannah Dwan (24 November 2016). "The rise, fall and future of Gmod Tower". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 8 November 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  6. ↑ Phillips, Monica (27 March 2023). "Tower Unite: How to Make Money Fast". Game Rant. Archived from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  7. ↑ Tower Unite - Workshop Update Release Trailer - IGN, 27 September 2018, archived from the original on 18 February 2024, retrieved 18 February 2024
  8. ↑ Pearson, Craig (30 August 2012). "A Brief History Of Garry's Mod: Community Contraptions". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  9. ↑ "Tower Unite - SteamDB". SteamDB. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  10. ↑ updated, Alexander Cope last (28 April 2023). "List of available games on NVIDIA GeForce Now". Windows Central. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  11. ↑ "Tower Unite, a community-based virtual world party game is now on Linux in beta". GamingOnLinux. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  12. ↑ "March 2019 Humble Monthly". Humble Bundle. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  13. ↑ "Tower Unite Steam Price History & Sales". steampricehistory.com. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  14. ↑ "TU Price Increase + Financial Support". PixelTail Games - Creators of Tower Unite!. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  15. ↑ "Price Decrease + Supporting TU". PixelTail Games - Creators of Tower Unite!. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  16. ↑ "Tower Unite - Supporter Pack! - Steam News". store.steampowered.com. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  17. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (21 July 2021). "Tower Unite on Steam". Steam. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  18. ↑ "Tower Unite on Steam". Steam. 18 July 2021. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  19. ↑ "Play For All 2021". Giant Bomb. 25 June 2021. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  20. ↑ "Giant Bomb's Game of the Year 2022: Day 1". Giant Bomb. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  21. ↑ Caldwell, Brendan (9 March 2018). "Ridealong: The bizarre resort town of Tower Unite". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  22. ↑ Birsner, Chris (30 May 2021). "21 Best First-Person Shooter Games For Kids". Game Rant. Archived from the original on 13 September 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.